Mehul Choksi gives up Indian citizenship to avoid extradition

Fugitive jewellery tycoon Mehul Choksi has surrendered his Indian citizenship and passport to the Indian High Commission in a move to avoid extradition from Antigua to stand trial in India.

Gitanjali Group’s Mehul Choksi has taken new measures to avoid extradition to India - Gitanjali Jewels- FacebookAs part of the ongoing Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case involving Gitanjali Group’s Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi, Choksi has made a new move to avoid returning to India to stand trial for his accused fraud, as reported by ET Online.

After taking citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda via the investment route in November 2017 before news of the fraud broke in early 2018, Choksi then cited fears for his life as a reason why he could not return to India.

Choksi subsequently cited ill health as a reason not to return to India and Indian authorities have been in ongoing discussions with Antiguan authorises to try and secure his extradition since.

However, now Choksi has renounced his Indian citizenship, an extradition arrangement may prove harder as India and Antigua do not have an extradition treaty. ET Online reported that Indian authorities had objected to Choksi holding dual citizenship but Choksi’s decision to renounce his Indian citizenship can be seen as a move to avoid extradition.

A Red Corner Notice (RCN) has been issued against Choksi but the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) which had led Antiguan authorities to agree to work with Indian authorities on the extradition.

However, in lieu of Choksi’s renunciation of his Indian citizenship, talks may prove more difficult.

Archives Mehul Choksi

Mehul Choksi had bought land intending to set up a SEZ and then illegally sell the land for profit, according to new evidence in the Panvel Tehsildar investigation into the land Choksi purchased with his associates.

The fugitive jewellery tycoon Mehul Choksi has been accused of another crime, this time concerning a land deal and failure to set up a special economic zone as agreed. The Panvel Tehsildar office is investigating.